NARC Federal Update May 2010 Building Regional Communities

8/8/2019 NARC Federal Update May 2010 Building Regional Communities

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Federal UpdateTampa Bay Regional Planning Council

Presented by:

Fred Abousleman, Executive Director



Overview

• About NARC• Surface Transportation Authorization

• RIIZs

• Livability• Federal Air Quality Changes

• NARC transportation program update

• Questions



About NARC• National non-profit trade organization• Represents multi-jurisdictional regional planning organizations – large

and small, urban and rural

• 240 members representing 97% of the counties and 99% of the U.S.population• Formed by NACo and NLC• Governed by local elected officials• Advised by Executive Directors

• NARC President Hon. Steve Cassano• Concentrate on four core areas – Transportation – Economic & Community Development – Homeland Security/Public Safety – Environment

• Has been successful recently in pushing funding to regions: – DOL, Green Infrastructure, DOE, and possible future $ in Broadband, Food

Systems, and Watershed Management

• Proudly represents most of CA COGs and MPOs!



Federal SnapshotCongressional Agenda

SurfaceTransportationAuthorization

Climate Change

Energy &Environment

ECONOMY

Stimulus

Global Wars

Mid-TermElections

HealthcareReform

Earmarks

Tax ReformNational Debt



NARC Legislative PrioritiesHiring Incentives to Restore Employment,

(HIRE) Act

• Authorizes current Surface Transportation programthrough 12/31/10

• Transfers $19.5 billion from GF to HTF – $14.7 Highways

– $4.8 Transit• Rescinds SAFETEA-LUs $8.7 billion rescission

– Funds highway program at $42 billion (2009, pre-rescissionlevel)

• Extends the authority for Build America Bonds



NARC Legislative PrioritiesFederal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Authorization• Complex legislative movement• Chairman Oberstar attempted to alter distribution of

extra FY10 highway funding – Started over earmarks (PNRS, Corridors)

– Not included in final legislation• Sen. Coburn (R-OK) amendment on Senate bill (not

House) to rescind all surface transportationearmarks that are:

– More than 9 years old – Less than 90% obligated – Has a chance of passing in this anti-earmark climate



NARC Legislative PrioritiesSurface Transportation Authorization• 2 Proposals – Oberstar & Rockefeller

– Oberstar: Moving Target

• Introduced last year• Viewed as discussion draft

– Rockefeller: Establishes the role of the federalgovernment in surface transportation

• Viewed as a way for the Senate CST committee to stay inthe game

– Boxer: Still in Development• Staff level discussions have been happening for over a

year• May not do a policy bill without $• More serious focus of late: Promise to Voinovich



NARC Legislative PrioritiesNARC is advocating for:

Authority to local and regional levelsAccept Responsibility

Increased local and regional funding

Flexibility in programsSimplicity in programs and process

Consistency in programs



NARC Legislative PrioritiesRegional Transportation Planning• Surface Transportation Authorization,

Livability, Climate Change all interwoven• Using lessons from ARRA to inform DOT/MPO/RPO

opinions• Same Committees providing oversight, writing legislation• All signs point to changing the way regions operate

• Surface Transportation Authorization may bedelayed, but portions being acted on now

• Defining Federal/State/local relationships• Metropolitan and rural planning

• Support for financing mechanisms



NARC Legislative PrioritiesSurface Transportation Authorization

• New roles/responsibilities for MPOs, RPOs

– Some positive – greater focus on local government,condensing programs, etc.

– Some negative – potential for significant unfunded mandates,new governance structures

– Some unknown – MMAP, money and priorities

• New responsibilities for local governments – Climate change

– Air quality

• HTF insolvent – recent transfer of General Fund $ – How will we continue to pay for the current system?



Where will $$$ come from?

Regional Infrastructure Improvement Zones

• Simple change to tax code

• Doesn’t rely on lengthy authorization/appropriationprocesses or policy debates

• Allows grassroots development of private-sectorinvestment in infrastructure – urban & rural

• Provides favorable tax deduction

• Must be on an approved plan

• Streamlined approval processes through COG/MPO

and local governments

• Transparency and accountability

• Leverages federal, state, local dollars



RIIZs – Easy as 1, 2, 3

Step 1: Local government, business andresidents voluntarily pool resources and

request a RIIZ.

Step 2: Review RIIZ application, build

consensus at COG/MPO and establish aRIIZ that fits within the approved regionalplan. (if no COG/MPO, goes to local gov’t)

Step 3: Business or individuals contributetax deductible funds to RIIZ infrastructureimprovements.



NARC Legislative PrioritiesRegional Infrastructure Improvement ZonesBenefits:

Upholds proven regional and local infrastructure investment

decision-making processes.Drives monies directly to the local level – both rural and urban.

Includes local governments and local elected officials as criticalpartners in the federal process.

Offers new options to fund infrastructure improvements andconstruction that are shelf-ready.

Status:

Have draft Senate bill

Looking for R co-sponsor

Building local, regional and national support

Hope to add FL COGs and MPOs as supporters!



RIIZs Supporters• Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments

• National Association of Regional Councils • Ohio Association of Regional Councils • Illinois Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council

• California Association of Councils of Governments • Florida Regional Council Association

• Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council • New England Association of Regional Councils

• TransportationMATTERS

• Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition • Alliance for I-69 Texas

• West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission • Southern California Association of Governments

• Northeast Florida Regional Council

• North Central Florida Regional Planning Council • Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council • Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments • Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District • Eastgate Regional Council of Governments • Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission • Deep East Texas Council of Governments

• East Texas Council of Governments • Capital Area Council of Governments

• Alamo Area Council of Governments



Climate Change• Kerry/Lieberman New Legislation?

• HR 2454 – Waxman Markey• S 1733 – Boxer Kerry

• Very little $$ for transportation

• House (passed in June) = strict mandates• Senate (working to get votes) = more

flexibility

• Senate EPW Committee work• Unlikely full climate bill will move in 2010



Climate Change• NARC’s Climate Change Framework focuses on incentive-

based alternative to GHGs in transportation planning

• Many meetings with Senate EPW Staff• Great progress from House billCLEAN-Tea billS 1733• NARC continues to work with Senate on S1733:

— Include transportation funding for new requirements— Two funding pots = transportation planning and implementation

(local governments eligible grantees)— DOT lead agency (coordinates with EPA)— VMT is a potential strategy, not national goal— Flexibility in strategies to reduce GHGs— Maintain local land use authority

—Prevents all lawsuits on plan or outcome

— Eliminate any decertification language— Require multi-regional coordination— Allow credit for previously developed plans



NARC Legislative PrioritiesLivability

NARC released its Livability Framework and is

advocating for the Federal government to:reaffirm its role in regionalism

coordinate regional assistance programs

conduct federal interagency meetings

determine federal livability goals

establish competitive comprehensive regional planning andimplementation grants

incentivize coordination among local and regional activities

improve data collection, research, evaluation and analysisensure land use/zoning requirements do not impede upon localdecision-making

provide for transparency, accountability and replicability



NARC Legislative PrioritiesLivability• S1619 – NARC & Senate Banking Committee –

reinvigorating comprehensive regional planning

—Opportunities for planning and implementation $ through HUD

— Streamlines processes and connects federal agencies andprograms

— Coordinates strategic regional transportation, economic,

environmental, land use and housing— Urban and Rural – includes definition for RPOs and makes them

eligible for funding

— HR4950 – NARC & Rep. Perlmutter (D-CO)— Same language as in Senate

• NARC helping gain support – will take time to move• Meeting today – Briefing Commerce Committee



NARC Legislative PrioritiesLivability

• Multiple White House/Congressional Meetings on this – NARC President/leadership met with HUD Deputy Secretary Ron

Sims, DOT Secretary LaHood WH office of Urban affairs todiscuss local gov’t & regional roles

• NARC submitted comments on $150M HUD SustainableCommunities Planning Grant Program

– HUD’s first big effort to forward the Obama Administrationslivable communities goals

– To integrate land-use/transportation/housing

– Local governments in driver seat

– Regions of all size should be eligible

– Use existing planning requirements – Recommended 13 funding categories

– NOFA to be released May 14 – MPOs eligible



TIGER GrantsTransportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery

• Preliminary NOFA for comments

released• Comments due on funding/eligibility by

mid-May

• May look to link DOT to HUD funding

– Streamline and combine grants

– NARC working on comments





NARC Legislative PrioritiesFederal Air Quality Standards

• NARC, with NACo, submitted comments toproposed rule

• NARC-NACo comments asked for: – Don’t change the primary or secondary standards – Consider EPAs actions as it relates to the funding

available (CMAQ) – Delay implementation of any new standards – Be open to including new technologies

• NARC creating Air Quality Toolkit for local

elected officials and regional planningorganizations to use in communicating theupcoming changes



What does this all mean?• Positive signs

• healthcare reform, and possibly financial reform,etc. may move off the Congressional calendar

• Negative signs

• 2010 election year – tough time to raise taxes

• Legislative processes take a long time

• Infrastructure not Administration priority!• Local governments will continue to search for ways to

fund primary infrastructure needs

• Must enact other infrastructure revenue generating

options



QUESTIONS?

Fred Abousleman, Executive [email protected]

(202) 986-1032 x 216

Documents

NARC Federal Update May 2010 Building Regional Communities